DIY Quick and Easy Watercolored Card Set (Free Download)

Hello, friends. I have something new today that I've been working on. If you follow my blog regularly, you  know how much I've been enjoying mixed media projects. One thing I like to do is watercolor the backgrounds. I have found that as much as I enjoy watercoloring, my papers don't always work well with this medium. I have to use the thick cardstock that tends to be a little costly. I also have to wait for my watercolored backgrounds to dry and often need to flatten them between pages of a heavy book.

I thought, why not make a digital watercolor background that I can simply print out in varieties of colors, so I can skip the tedious process of watercoloring. This is what I came up with. I printed these out on regular cardstock (Walmart's Georgia brand, more specifically). I simply trimmed them and matched them with my cardstocks.

I then heat embossed Penny Black's Tweet, Tweet flower image, added the sentiments (from The Craft's Meow), bow and Want2Scrap bling. I mounted the front panel using SA by 3L foam squares.

I made this set in less than 30 minutes. How would you like to make these yourself? They're perfect for holiday gifting. I have two of the colors as a free download for you. The first two cards above use these. Just click on the photo below to download:

I have made 14 colors total. The other 12 are available for purchase on my ETSY store. I hope you will check them out. Included are these trendy colors: Orchid (the new Pantone 2014 Color of the Year), Corn, Dusty Rose, Emerald, Green, Gray, Honeysuckle, Kraft, Orange, Hot Pink, Red, Turquoise. The other colors I used on my cards above are the Red and Green.

 

Have a great, crafty weekend, friends!

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A Farewell Hop

This is a bittersweet hop as the TCM team says goodbye to The Craft's Meow. It's bitter for me because it's always hard to say goodbye to something that has been a big part of my crafting life the last two years. I will miss the regular interaction with the team and the excitement of seeing the new stamp designs coming up. It has been a privilege to see the DT's beautiful handiwork applied to my designs. I'm truly thankful for each of them.

This is also a sweet moment not just for me, but also for Lisa, the owner of TCM. Lisa is about to embark on a new chapter of her professional life that necessitates the change. And I support her wholeheartedly as she faithfully obeys God's direction.

For me, TCM's closing comes at an opportune time. God's timing is always perfect. My family and ministry life is taking up more time than ever and I welcome the change. (I'm not going away completely though, since I still do product design for other companies.) And I couldn't be happier for Lisa as she pursues what she believes God is leading her to. It is an exciting place to be! Not because of the unknown, but because we get to practice our trust in Him. We get to put into action our faith in a benevolent God who sees the bigger picture of our lives.

Now, onto today's projects. I have 2 cards that show how I feel today. The first card is for all the TCM fans out there who have joined us in this journey. Thank you for your support and sharing the joys of new stamps and using them to brighten somebody's day. I used the Chalkboard Birthday stamp set. The papers and lace stickers are by Hot Off the Press and bling by Want2Scrap.

My second card is for all those affected by TCM's closing more directly: Lisa, the illustrators, designers and others. What a fitting word of encouragement as we look ahead to the future, knowing that God is there all the way and His promises are ever true. I used Chalkboard Faith for the main sentiment.

Saying goodbye to TCM is bittersweet indeed, but I think the sweet could prove to be more important, and definitely longer lasting, than the bitter part because God is in it and He never, ever disappoints. 

If you came from the talented Lindsay Amrhein's blog, then you're at the right place. TCM is closing its doors at the end of December. All stamp sets have been marked down by as much as 75%! Stock is limited... once it's gone, it's gone for good, so please shop early for the best selection. All orders of $25 or more will receive a free gift with purchase. Flat rate shipping is $3.00 for all US orders and $12 for all International orders. Please see the store blog for details, or click over to The Craft's Meow store to start shopping!And from here, you need to stop by sweet Larissa Heskett's blog.

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Mixed Media Poinsettia Card Tutorial

As promised, here is the tutorial for the Poinsettia card I shared earlier.

Supplies Used:

• The Craft's Meow's Holiday Poinsettia and Inside Christmas stamp sets
• Imagine Craft's/Tsukineko's Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark and Memento Love Letter inks
• Ranger's Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Evergreen Bough and Crushed Olive 
• Stampin' Up's Watercolor Pencils
• Scrapbook Adhesives by3L EZ Runner
• Want2Scrap Silver Rhinestones strip
• Kraft A2 card base
• 2 Patterned papers
• Lace
• Seam binding
• Watercolor Brush
• Blending sponges
• White Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun

Stamp image with waterproof ink.

Sponge different hues of red Distress Inks onto the image. Use the darker ink in the center.

Sponge Olive ink in the upper part of the background and Evergreen on the bottom background.

Highlight the shadows and lights on the image using watercolor pencils.

Highlight the poinsettia image with a dark brown watercolor pencil.

 Color wash and blend the water color highlights using a brush.

 Stamp image onto a patterned paper. Cut out a few of the petals and adhere onto the corresponding part of the watercolored image.

Heat emboss partially the image with white embossing powder. It's okay if it's not perfectly aligned. That way it creates a shadow effect.

Stamp sentiment inside box. Adhere patterned paper on the left side of the card base. Embellish the center of the flower with rhinestones.

Stitch top and bottom edges of the combined panels. Adhere lace, seam binding bow, white flourish sticker and rhinestones.

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The Craft's Meow's October 2013 Release Blog Hop

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's October Release Blog Hop. Thank you for joining us today. If you came from Mindy's blog, then you're at the right spot. To see the full list, make sure you visit the TCM blog. I have 3 cards to show you today.

The first one uses my new Holiday Poinsettia set. I colored the main image wtih Copic markers. The polka dot background is from a stash.

Here's a close up of the poinsettia. I added some Want2Scrap rhinestones on the center of the flower. This card appeals to those who like the elegant style.

My next card is CAS. I wanted to show how easy it is to make mass-producible card with this set. If you want to see how I used this set in a shabby vintage style, please see yesterday's post.

My next one uses Clare's Christmas Lantern set. I went all vintage shabby on this one. It's more than I usually do, but I had all these little scraps of paper laying around that seemed perfect to use on my card. The lantern was colored with water color pencils. I added some Want2Scrap blinged SAby3L photo corners on the frame (negative cut of the Spellbinder die cut I used on a previously posted card) to create balance. The papers are Pink Paislee.

The Craft's Meow is giving away all the new sets. One random commenter will win all six of the newly released stamp sets by leaving comments on the blogs on the hop. You have until 8:00 pm Pacific on Friday, October 23rd to enter. The winner will be announced the next day on the TCM blog.  And don't forget the FREE set with $60 purchase is the Inside Christmas set.

Your next stop is my friend -->> Sharri<<--.

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TCM Previews: Holiday Poinsettia and Inside Christmas

Welcome to day four of  The Craft's Meow's October previews. Today we're showing two sets. One is by yours truly called Holiday Poinsettia. It includes one big Poinsettia stamp with a frame and several sentiments that you can stamp inside the frame. 

I colored my flower with my long neglected Stampin' Up Watercolor pencils. I like that I don't have to stay within the lines as I do with Copic marker coloring. :) I'm having so much fun with this stamp. I'll show you an elegant Copic colored card, along with a CAS card, tomorrow for the release. I also created a mixed media inspired card that I'll post soon after.

My second card uses the new FREE set with $60 purchase by Karen Baker called Inside Christmas. These sentiments are great for inside, but also on the outside, as you see below. I added some Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Photo corners on the top to create balance.

I used two of my Spellbinder dies designs, Frosty Forms and Labels 28. I also used the Bird Sanctuary dies. I stamped my Poinsettia image inside the Label after it was sponged with Distress inks. Want2Scrap pearls were adhered in various places for added elegance.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's sets! Enjoy your Sunday and see you tomorrow for the Release Hop!

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TCM Previews: Christmas Lantern

I have a houseful of little ladies for my birthday girls' combined slumber parties right now. It's tiring, but oh so much fun to watch them enjoy their childhood. My kids are growing up too fast and someday I'll miss these beautiful chaos in our home. :)

Anyhoo, welcome to day 3 of The Craft's Meow's October previews. Today we're showing a beautiful set by my friend Clare Buswell called Christmas Lantern. It has one big stamp that is fun to color, which I did here on my card with Copic markers. The little strip of patterned paper is October Afternoon. 

The doily background is something I designed that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo. Some Want2Scrap bling embellished the different elements of my card.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's set! Enjoy your day!

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TCM Previews: Christmas Blessings

Welcome to day two of  The Craft's Meow's October previews. Today we're showing a set by Karen Baker called Christmas Blessings. It's a set that is right my alley with its vintage style images and elegant sentiments.

I used the elegant deer and the sentiment from this set. The papers are Pink Paislee's City Sidewalks.  I distressed the edges of the background before stitching the edges. I stitched an ephemera card on the right and propped the sentiment, which was die cut with Spellbinders classic circle dies, on top with Scrapbook Adhesives by3L Foam Squares.

I used some lace to ground the deer, which is embellished with Want2Scrap bling. Some yarn and a bell adorn it.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's set! Have a great weekend. We have a busy one, celebrating 3 birthdays!

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The Craft's Meow's October Blog Hop

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's October Blog Hop. Our theme this month is FALL/AUTUMN. We are definitely enjoying fall here in Croatia. Sometimes it feels like it's ready to jump straight to Winter! It's been chilly early in the morning. If you came from Lin Brandyberry's blog, then you're at the right spot. Please check the TCM blog for the complete list.

I have a simple card today. I used the brand new Speaking of Fall, which you can get for free with $60 purchase this month! I made my own background by doing the 2-step stamping and random stamping of the dots in a subtle color. I inked the edges and stitched around the stamped panel.

The focal point is a tag stamped with the subway art that came with the Speaking of Fall stamp set. It's embellished with a fussy cut leaf, brown lace and coordinating twine.

One commenter will win a $15 gift certificate to The Craft's Meow store. Check the TCM blog for more detailed info. Your next stop is -->> Sharri Seffens. Happy hopping!

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Happy World Cardmaking Day 2013!

I am excited to participate in today's World Card Making Day festivities. I'm blog hopping today with the Paper Crafts Magazine. You can see the full list of participants HERE. In a few hours, I'll be hosting some ladies for a card making party in my home. It's still a novelty here and I'm glad I can share this hobby with my friends here. I believe this is the 3rd in a row that I've hosted a party on WCMD. As you can see on the photos below, we love card making!

Here are my cards today. The first one is Christmas. I did emboss resist on the background using Penny Black's All is Bright stamp set. The dear is Spellbinders' Frosty Forms dies. I added a small Want2Scrap pearl on his nose and some Twinery bow on top.

I hand cut the snowy hills. The sentiment is SRM Stickers Fancy Sentiments Christmas.

My second card uses a stamp set I've been using a lot lately, The Craft's Meow's Chalkboard Faith. The papers are by Hot Off the Press. The intricate doily and lace stickers are also by HOTP. And they are my new favorites. I'm entering this to Moxie Fab World's Sticker and Tape Challenge.

Don't you just love the quote? I added a strip of Want2Scrap pearls on the side and on the tag.

And here are a couple of photos of our past card making parties in Croatia.

 

To continue on with the rest of the hope, please go here --->>> Brandi Hall. You can see the full list here:  WCMD Blog Hop List. Thank you for joining us and happy hopping!

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Great Hearts Vintage Card

 I have a shabby vintage card for you today using Chalkboard Faith again. This is one of those sets that I  selfishly made just because I want to use it on my cards :). I especially love this quote by C. Spurgeon. Its message can bring hope to any troubled friend.

I used Hot Off the Press' Penelope papers. I just love this very vintage and colorful collection. I inked the edges of the panels and did some stitching to add to the vintage look.

The friend sentiment is from Kindred Spirits, also by TCM. It's accented by Want2Scrap pearls and mounted the sentiment using SAby3L Foam Squares. I adhered using SAby 3L Dodz. Various buttons and paper flowers, that were laying on my desk, were used to anchor the sentiment. And finally a twill bow embellished the card. I'm entering this to Moxie Fab World's Ready Made Embellishments challenge.

Have a super weekend, friends!

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